Apparatus for reading and identifying data carriers in card form which can be printed upon

Abstract

To print a card-type data medium that has a thermosensitive layer, the data medium is passed through a flat channel defining a level transport path provided with a bulge. Situated in the bulge is a thermal print head set at a distance outside the transport path. Opposite the thermal print head, on the other side of the channel is a pressure contact roller which can be moved through the transport path toward the thermal print head. The device preferably has a bar code reader, a magnetic strip reader and an IC reader.

We claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for reading and identifying data carriers in card form which can be printed upon and which have a thermosensitive layer, comprising; a transport mechanism for linear movement of the data carriers in a shallow passage defining a transport path,   a reading-identification means having a thermal printing head for recording visually readable identification of the data carriers, said thermal printing head being arranged so far outside the transport path that data carriers which are not to be thermally printed upon and which pass the thermal printing head do not touch same, and   a pressure roller being disposed opposite the thermal printing head and movably towards the thermal printing head.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the thermal printing head is arranged in a bulge portion of the shallow passage. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the reading-identification means has a bar code reader and a magnetic strip reader, said thermal printing head being arranged between the bar code reader and the magnetic strip reader. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus according to claim 3 characterized in that a bar code reader is provided centrally at each of the two flat sides of the shallow passage. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 4 characterized in that a clamping device is provided in the branching-off side section of the transport path. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 5 characterized in that the clamping device has a pivot lever which can be pivoted into the side section. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 6 characterized in that an undriven transport roller is provided, spring-loaded towards the pivot lever, at the side of the side section which is opposite the pivot lever. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to claim 6 characterized in that the pivot lever has a guide pin engaging into a second cam track provided on the control disk. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus according to claim 8 characterized in that the cam track has a region which is concentric relative to the axis of the control disk and an end region which produces the deflection movement of the pivot lever. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the reading-identification means has a bar code reader and a reader for a re-writable electronic module, said thermal printing head being arranged between the bar code reader and the reader for a re-writable electronic module. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus according to claim 10 characterized in that a bar code reader is provided centrally at each of the two flat sides of the shallow passage. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the pressure roller is mounted on a rocker member which can be raised by means of an eccentric element. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus according to claim characterized in that the eccentric element has an entrainment roller which is arranged on a pivotably driven crank arm and the entrainment roller engages into a slot in the rocker member. 
     
     
       14. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising at least one side section branching from the flat transport path subsequently to the reading-identification means, and a switchable routing device. 
     
     
       15. Apparatus according to claim 14 characterized in that the switchable routing device has a pivotably mounted routing flap which engages with a guide pin into a cam track and the cam track is provided on a rotatably driven control disk. 
     
     
       16. Apparatus according to claim 15 characterized in that the cam track has a region which is concentric with respect to the axis of the control disk and an eccentric end region for producing the pivotal movement of the routing flap. 
     
     
       17. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising two side sections branching from the transport path, each of the two side sections having a routing flap and a clamping device. 
     
     
       18. Apparatus according to claim 17 characterized in that associated with the two routing flaps and the two clamping devices is a common, rotatably driven control disk on which are provided a common cam track for the two routing flaps and a common cam track for the two pivot levers of the clamping devices.